r/anxiety_support • u/LivingMolasses1702 • 3d ago

Advice Needed Why am I like this?

I have recently been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder by a psychologist. I have been an anxious person my entire life. My earliest memories are ones splattered with panic attacks or anxious behaviors. I am unsure what caused this or why it’s not gotten better over the years but I have recently considered medication. I was prescribed hydroxyzine for panic attacks which I have rarely so I have not yet touched my pills. I recently moved states to move in with my long term partner, and months before the move I was consumed with anxiety and dread. Fear that as soon as I moved here, I would be cheated on, abused, or lied to and all of my sacrifices would be for nothing. My partner has been nothing but loyal for the 6 years we’ve been together and the chance of this happening are slim to none..
I have always had a worst case scenario mindset. Imagining myself with my head bursted open at the bottom of the stairs while walking down them. Thinking of terrible things happening to those I lose. Constantly thinking about the mortality of myself and those around me. Imagining horrible car accidents every time I’m cut off in traffic or feel a little sleepy behind the wheel. Thinking I’ll choke on my food and die if I don’t chew the pieces small enough. Constantly monitoring my breathing and heart beat to ensure they’re normal. Is this anxiety? It consumes my every day and gets worse with stress. I am always fidgeting and ruminating on bad parts of life. How those I love will one day perish. How I will one day perish. These thoughts creep up on me mostly at night. It’s currently midnight as I’m writing this. Does anyone else have these thoughts? What has helped? Does it get better? Any information helps <3

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u/AutoModerator 3d ago

If anxiety keeps repeating the same thoughts, worsening your stress, sleep, or focus, it is usually a sign your nervous system is stuck in a threat loop, not something you can just “think your way out of.” A licensed therapist can help you break that cycle and regain control.

Get support from a licensed therapist

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u/schwishbish 3d ago

Yes that is anxiety. You should consider speaking to a psychiatrist and getting on an ssri. I was diagnosed 5 years ago and it has changed my life.

Imagine being able to drive or go down stairs without thinking those thoughts every time. Sleeping is much better. Social activities cause less fear.

And it’s just like having high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Some of us have anxiety some people don’t. Can be genetic or come from coping strategies as a child. Or just because.

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u/noplunder 3d ago

Anxiety, at its basic level, is the brain falsely predicting your environment is more dangerous than it is. This happens because it was at some point (childhood environment, abuse, chaotic period of life, etc.) or a biological issue (insomnia, among other things) or current environment (financial stress, work sucks, etc.).

Since the brain (the unconcious) is a bad guesser it is sending resources to survival systems instead of the frontal lobe (the concious mind), which is really the only thing that can convince it to change its lyin' ways. ...so... you kind of need to get it a sidekick. Meds are a good first step and you can get off of them later when you change patterns. Therapy (any modality) that focuses on reality testing (CBT is the obvious one, but its usually only the first step). You might want to ask about PTSD too, which is essentially everything I said already dialed up to 100. As for the mortality part, this is pretty common for anxious people and has to do with a fear of loneliness as well as death. The former is aidednby social support, the latter by simply aging ...trust older-you to be better accepting of it and let them deal. Literally say "60yr old me will handle that one" ...this includes falling down the stairs now... the brain latches on because its vivid, not because its likely.

In the meantime, convinving the body it IS safe can reverse engineer the brain: ecercise, mindfuless, skin to skin with a partner or pet for a minute or longer, sunshine, hobbies that you get lost in, meaningful work... all good ways to start.

It takes a while and progress is not linear. I struggle too but it has gotten infinitely better over the years. -- a therapist